Poem written and spoken by Israfel Sivad from his collection The Tree Outside My Windowavailable here.
Original music written, performed and produced by Weylin’ Rose.
Thumbnail: “Untitled (Snowman I)” by Alex Barry.

Poem written and spoken by Israfel Sivad from his collection “The Tree Outside My Window” available here.
Thumbnail: “Blood Brushstrokes” blood on paper by Rogelio Ronco.

Sunday AfternoonBy Israfel Sivad

Believe me when I say that
I have seen the stars of night
sparkle in the light
of a woman’s sight.

I have forgotten more visions
of mirages on sand
than grains of that same sand
ever slipped through my hands.

I have lost more lives
than have ever been stolen
from a cat on the prowl
or a family in war.

I have stared at myself
until I grew roots
and cut those roots
to move downstream

and stare again.

I have fought and cried so many times,
and never once did I believe
a single scream could not be heard
until the day I met the day
when every scream’s cacophony
tore through my dream, leaving me
shaking and sweating, wringing my hands:
bloody, drenched and licked so clean
by tongues of whores who torture me,
forcing me, gasping and drowning,
buried and choking,
beneath the sullen,
sandy sea.